FLASHBACK:

3 Years and 4 Months ago.

LOCATION: Dining Room, Park residence, No.1, VM Road, Myit. Time: 10.08PM.

HA JOON'S POV:

MR. SORIANO: *Offering his hand for a shake*  Nice to meet you, young man.

I snap out of my daze and shake his hand – Fucking, Ana Soriano's father's hand.

The million butterflies in my stomach all flutter at once – I'm going to marry Ana Soriano.

I bow to Mrs. Soriano.

OMMONIM: Come, take your seat. *Points to the chair next to her.*

Nodding obediently, I make my way and take my seat, barely hiding the skip in my step.

ABEONIM: Mr. Soriano is the founder and CEO of SeroniX. Analyn is his daughter.

I nod and look at Ana.  So, nobody knows we went to the same high school?

Neither of my parents cared about anything other than my performance in school, seems like neither did hers.

HA JOON: Hello Analyn, I'm Park Ha Joon.

My breath stops as Ana looks at me and smiles.  It's been nearly 3 years since I saw this smile.

ANA: Hello-

ABEONIM: The terms are set.

All eyes turn to Abeonim.

Come on! We were having a moment.

ABEONIM: Ana gets 1% stake in Dae Hyun Corp and half of Ana's stake in SeroniX will be transferred to Ha Joon.

MR. SORIANO: Yes.

I look at my parents' shell shocked - Why am I taking away Ana's shares from her own company?

I turn to Ana and to my surprise, find her smiling shyly.  What the fuck?

HA JOON: Wait, why am I getting Analyn's shares? Doesn't she need to hold on to it to take over SeroniX?

Both Mr. and Mrs. Soriano laugh. What the fuck is going on?

MRS. SORIANO: SeroniX is for our son Aurelio Soriano. *Looks at Ana*  Isn't it Analyn? *Ana nods*  She belongs to the Parks now.

My head explodes – What the fuck is happening? Is this a prank or something?

HA JOON: But doesn't Analyn want to work at SeroniX-

ABEONIM: Daughter-in-laws don't work in the Park family.

I barely try to cover my smirk – Because they'll surpass you?

HA JOON: Abeonim, women and men can both run and take care of the family together. One need not sacrifice for the other.

MR. SORIANO: *Laughs*  Young generation and their ideals. Son, a woman's job is to take care of the family first.

My eyes dart to Ana – Is he really your father?

But to my disappointment she is nodding in agreement to his blasphemous statement.

I give up and lean back in my chair. 

What the hell happened to you Ana? Since when did you not want SeroniX? And why the fuck are you behaving like a clueless, delicate, naive princess?

MRS. SORIANO: Ana is so excited for the wedding. She has already placed an order for a Claire Pettibone wedding dress. She's a bit disappointed that the venue in Switzerland for her dream white wedding is unavailable-

Abeonim clears his throat.

OMMONIM: *Smiles*  We will be having a traditional Korean wedding. We'll select the dress together.

I don't bother looking at Ana. I fucking know, she will be beaming and nodding her head.

My blood boils.

OMMONIM: We will be having the wedding in Phukhao. With the President and Prime Minister attending, we have to have the ceremony in the capital.

MR. SORIANO: Of course.

I stare at the plate filled with the best of Korean delicacies in front of me.

All the most powerful politicians and the richest industrialists will all be invited to the sham of a wedding where we'll be pronounced man and wife.

I hate that title. Always have.

Aren't married couples supposed to be pronounced partners in life?

I look up and my heart sinks, the one girl I thought was that partner for me is seeing dreams of marrying a man and being his wife for the rest of her life. FUCK.

Anger boils over and I spring out of my chair. Ommonim gives me a quick glare.

HA JOON: I have to use the washroom.

I leave the room as fast as I can.

TIME SKIP:

LOCATION: Corridor, Park residence, No.1, VM Road, Myit. Time: 10:30 PM.

I drag my feet in front of the dining room door. I don't want to go in. If I see Ana's face I will surely lose it.

When my heart broke into a million pieces the day I rejected Ana's proposal in high school, I never thought a worse day would come.

Fuck man!

?: *From behind*  Are you alright?

I spin around and find myself bang in front of Ana.

HA JOON: No. We need to talk.

I don't wait for her reply. I walk past her to the balcony at the end of the corridor.

LOCATION: Balcony, Park residence, No.1, VM Road, Myit. Time: 10:31 PM.

ANA: Ha Joon?

HA JOON: I want you to reject this proposal.

ANA: *Calm*  No.

HA JOON: You don't understand Analyn. The Park Family you're marrying into is not a normal family. We're very competitive.

Ana continues to look calmly at me. Her eyes bore into my soul, leaving a trail of sharp pain.

HA JOON: You saw the dining table, right? Not a single dish of your choice was served. Everything was made to suit our taste. It's a trailer for what's coming next Analyn. Please don't ruin your life. Just reject me and go live your life. You still have your graduation-

ANA: *Smiles*  Congratulations on completing both your undergrad and postgrad in record time. It wouldn't have been easy.

That smile melts my heart.

ANA: Don't worry I know what I'm getting into. And for me the most important thing is us. As long as I have you, I don't need anything else.

MRS. SORIANO: *From inside*  Analyn?

ANA: *Smiles*  Don't worry about me.

HA JOON: Analyn please. I'm not worth-

ANA: *Smile gets bigger*  I'll see you at our wedding.

And with that she spins and leaves.

I plop on the railing – Please Ana, I don't want a wedding. Especially, a sham wedding, with you. I don't want to be your only source of joy or happiness or whatever.

Fuck, how did it all get this messed up so quick?

PRESENT DAY:

LOCATION: Ha Joon's car, stuck in Mid-Day Traffic, Naingsud Garden Road, Myit. Time: 12:35 PM 

The traffic is progressing in Myit's trademark slower than a snail's pace. I ease my hands from the steering wheel and look at Ana seated next to me. Her eyes meet mine before she turns back to her phone.

I hated you Ana for being a spineless woman. But I have come to realize there is no one else I want by my side when shit hits the ceiling.

So, whatever your reason was to change into a meek, submissive, naive woman, I am okay with it. Just stay by my side, like you are doing right now, and I will take care of everything.

Ana looks up at me, raising her brows.

I smile, shake my head, and turn back to the road.

With Ana in my life, everything will be fine. 

Even with the punk Leo breathing down my neck from the back seat, we will be fine.